WASTE WATCH REPORT -- Remember all that stimulus money from 2009 that was supposed to be a shot in the arm for our economy? Turns out some of it spent in Ohio was mismanaged - that's according to the Ohio Inspector General.
"All it is is a surplus of money and it leads to more inflation," said Laura Lee Petree of Dayton who was always skeptical of the 2009 Federal Stimulus money.
Now to hear part of it was mismanaged here at home, "it saddens me. You know anytime a third party is involved in receiving money and they determine how to spend it, sadly there is corruption," said Petree.
A lengthy investigation by the Ohio Inspector General's office concluded the Department of Job and Family Services Workforce Development division failed to "adequately oversee" a $1 million dollar federal grant used for a job training initiative to help people get back to work.
Some of the poor spending examples include gift card and food purchases on the grant, lack of detailed supporting documents such as receipts, missing written contracts to support the grant, and supervisors not approving timecards.
In southwest Ohio alone - more than a quarter of a million dollars is in question.
Ben Johnson, a Job and Family Services Spokesperson responded stating in part, "The individuals named in this report are not ODJFS employees. The report details a number of questioned costs. In some cases, there may be additional documentation showing that these expenditures were allowable. In cases where an expenditure was not allowable, we will work to recover the money from the grant recipient and return it to the federal government."
Taxpayers, like David Medve say they expect more.
"I think they spend too much," said Medve, referring to the federal government.
"You know, I know there's no perfect system, but a system where we can see where money needs to be spent most and how it can be most used to maximize it," said Petree.
If you suspect government waste, write to us at wastewatch@fox45now.com or wastewatch@abc22now.com
"All it is is a surplus of money and it leads to more inflation," said Laura Lee Petree of Dayton who was always skeptical of the 2009 Federal Stimulus money.
Now to hear part of it was mismanaged here at home, "it saddens me. You know anytime a third party is involved in receiving money and they determine how to spend it, sadly there is corruption," said Petree.
A lengthy investigation by the Ohio Inspector General's office concluded the Department of Job and Family Services Workforce Development division failed to "adequately oversee" a $1 million dollar federal grant used for a job training initiative to help people get back to work.
Some of the poor spending examples include gift card and food purchases on the grant, lack of detailed supporting documents such as receipts, missing written contracts to support the grant, and supervisors not approving timecards.
In southwest Ohio alone - more than a quarter of a million dollars is in question.
Ben Johnson, a Job and Family Services Spokesperson responded stating in part, "The individuals named in this report are not ODJFS employees. The report details a number of questioned costs. In some cases, there may be additional documentation showing that these expenditures were allowable. In cases where an expenditure was not allowable, we will work to recover the money from the grant recipient and return it to the federal government."
Taxpayers, like David Medve say they expect more.
"I think they spend too much," said Medve, referring to the federal government.
"You know, I know there's no perfect system, but a system where we can see where money needs to be spent most and how it can be most used to maximize it," said Petree.
If you suspect government waste, write to us at wastewatch@fox45now.com or wastewatch@abc22now.com